CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Youth Grand Final Day: Seven epic deciders at Ngā Puna Wai
The 2026 CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Youth Grand Final Day delivered seven thrilling competition deciders in sparkling winter conditions at on Sunday.
Six clubs featured on the day – with each claiming a victory – and accordingly a sizeable and vocal crowd descended on Ngā Puna Wai, the home of Canterbury Rugby League.
The action got underway in brisk temperatures at 10.30am, with Eastern Eagles outlasting Linwood Keas 20-8 in the 13s Girls grand final.
The Eagles led 10-8 at halftime but scored the only two tries of the second half, including a second to Isobella Tauvale.
The 14s Boys grand final between Riccarton Knights and Linwood Keas went down to the wire.
The Knights led 12-10 at halftime but fell behind when the Keas’ Huntah Delaney scored, before Dallas Findlay crossed for what would prove the match-winner for Riccarton in a 16-14 result.
Hornby Panthers recovered from a halftime deficit to edge out Sydenham Swans 20-16 in a magnificent 16 Boys grand final.
Down 10-6 at the break, the Panthers scored two quick tries midway through the second half. The Swans squared up via Fagaloa Savaii’s try, but Panthers winger Tahi Tutere flashed over for his second to snatch the win for a jubilant Hornby side.
A big finish from Linwood Keas saw them overrun Eastern Eagles 26-18 in the 15s Girls grand final.
The Eagles led 18-10 after 10 minutes of the second half, but the Keas responded with the last three tries of the match – including two to Tyla Tasi Ki to give her a hat-trick for the match – to lift the trophy.
The vote for the thriller of CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Youth Grand Final Day went to the Under 17s Girls clash between Rolleston Warriors and Linwood Keas.
Ahead 12-0 at halftime, the Keas watched their lead evaporate via two Warriors tries in the first seven minutes of the second stanza.
But after some impressive goal-line resistance, Linwood reclaimed the lead as Azure Faimalo powered over for her second try. With time ticking down, Rachel Fong-Yip – who had opened Rolleston’s account just after halftime – broke into the clear and blazed down the touchline to race away for a sensational long-range equaliser.
Shanelle Allan coolly slotted the conversion on the siren to snatch an 18-16 triumph for the Warriors.
Linwood Keas, the only club to win multiple titles on CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Youth Grand Final Day, claimed the 15s Boys spoils with a 30-18 victory over Hornby Panthers.
The Keas led 16-6 at halftime, but the Panthers struck first in the second half through Siosefo Tupou. Back-to-back tries gave Linwood crucial breathing room, but Hornby kept the pressure on and scored again to keep the game alive.
Matthaeus Rekosua Tuiloma’s try with six minutes to go effectively wrapped up the trophy for the Keas.
CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Youth Grand Final Day concluded with a pulsating 18s Boys decider between Sydenham Swans and Riccarton Knights.
The rivals traded tries throughout the first half, but the Swans went into the break 20-12 in front after grabbing consecutive tries.
Powerhouse Knights prop Tyler Rush scored his third try just after halftime, but that sparked an avalanche of five unanswered Swans tries in the space of 15 minutes.
In a showdown where there was plenty of feeling amid the ferocious defence and determined tries, Riccarton rallied and put on back-to-back tries inside the last 10 minutes. But fittingly the Swans had the last say with lock and Player of the Match Hemiata Togia scoring his second try in the dying stages.
In a 56-24 result, Abraham Vaoga finished with 26 points for the Swans from three tries and seven goals.
Canterbury Rugby League thanks Sidekick Chartered Accountants for their support of CRL Youth Grand Final Day, backing our region’s rangitahi, along with all our match officials, the players, coaches, volunteers and fans for making it such a wonderful occasion.
Main image credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
